Pa. county would issue same-sex marriage license

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Officials in the third-largest county in Pennsylvania today vowed to issue same-sex marriage licenses to any couple who seeks one, defying a state law that bans the practice.

The announcement comes on the heels of a federal lawsuit challenging a ban on same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania, the only northeastern state that has not legalized same-sex marriages or civil unions.

The chairman of the Montgomery County commissioners, Democrat Josh Shapiro, said he supports same-sex marriage and was ready for the county to defend the stance in court.

The offer of a same-sex marriage license “stands for any other couple who might approach the county,” Shapiro said, adding, “I think it is a very big deal what happened in Montgomery County today.”